GEORGE TOWN: The gloves are off in this DAP fight with chairman Karpal Singh squaring off against two party strongmen over the issue of their acceptance of awards carrying the title of “Datuk” while still being active in politics.

The veteran leader said the rule for DAP MPs and assemblymen was agreed upon since the mid-1990s

“Both Ngeh and Teng went against the principle and I am unhappy,” Karpal said here yesterday.

Asked if they had given any explanation to the party over the matter, he said only Ngeh had but he considered his clarification as “unacceptable”.

“Only members who have retired or are no longer politically active should accept such titles.

“From now on, the party will take action against those who do not follow this ruling,” he said.

Karpal said the rule was to ensure that party leaders practised transparency and not gain by getting titles, stressing that it was not meant as an insult to the Malay Rulers.

“In Penang, the DAP-led state government has honoured several leaders who had retired from active politics,” he said, citing the example of the late Chian Heng Kai who was once Bukit Mertajam MP, former Batu Lanchang state assemblyman the late Tan Loo Jit and former Berapit assemblyman Wong Hang Yoke.

In an immediate response, Teng, who is also Selangor State Assembly Speaker, questioned the existence of such a rule.

“There is no such policy. Ask Karpal to show the CEC minutes,” he said.

Ngeh was conferred a Datukship in 2008 while Teng accepted his in 2010.

“Tunku Aziz’s statement which was carried by a newspaper is a half-truth account perpetrated for the sole purpose of putting me in bad light in the eyes of the Malays in the country.”

“He lied by uttering something baseless. I do not think this was a reckless statement (by him). Instead, it was carefully crafted,” Karpal claimed, adding that DAP had made a mistake by recruiting Tunku Aziz.

The member of the Kedah royalty resigned from DAP on May 14 after disagreeing with Pakatan Rakyat’s decision to be involved in a Bersih rally.

Meanwhile, Wong, who retired from politics after his showdown with former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in Tanjung Bungah in 1999, said he no longer held any post in the party.